Today, we’ll focus on three lessons that prepared me to do my work. I pray that you find something here to help you, or that you can share with others… but please seek medical help in your recovery:

1. I Learned Good Grief: At the age of 17, a well-meaning teacher questioned some of the changes in me. Tears overflowed as I tried expressing myself. She responded, “God is not moved by tears, He is moved by faith.” While her intent was to help, she only made it worse. All I heard was, “You’re failing God.”

2. I Let Others in My Process: I stopped denying my need for people. Depression led me to cut loved ones off for various reasons. I discovered that some people were uncomfortable with the fact that they could not “fix” me. So, I figured I’d save them the trouble and emotionally retreated.

3. I Explored My Gifts: Depression drained me and I stopped doing the things I loved. But one day out of sheer desperation, I started writing. What did I have to lose? In my writing, I found a sliver of myself again. Over time, the consistent act of doing what I loved helped me progress. Each taste of joy—no matter how faint—gave me reason to hold on and hope.

Please take some time to read the rest of Coach Felicia’s post on ESSENCE.com. Depression and other mental illnesses are very serious and it is important that we remain very aware of what’s going with our mental health.

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Friendship

Isolation, Lack of social network create depression. You have all the material stuff but have not one to enjoy it with you. Reach out, If you feel depressed or lonely, call someone from work or church or dance class and say hey, you wanna grab a cup of coffee with me, or lunch, or whatever. Make sure you exchange #s w/ someone, wherever you go. Pharmaceuticals alone are not going to cure you. “We are the most socially ISOLATED group of people”-Sociologist on a TV show. REACH OUT.

Truth

I am glad this was article was posted. Many people of color do not either know how to seek mental health treatment or are too embarrassed as mental health issues are so taboo in our culture. We are taught to deal with our own issues, however many times we cannot. There is help available so we need to seek it. Many of us seek God and spirituality which I believe wholeheartedly is beneficial, however we are also human and need to tend to the human struggles we go through. God created mental health professionals for a reason. When I finish my doctorate in counseling in May I hope to open a private practice and to become a professor to teach others, especially African Americans how to be competent counselors.